Introduction of the Energy Conservation Act in Japan

Transcription

1 Introduction of the Energy Conservation Act in Japan 1 Outline of the Energy Conservation Act (EC Act) Japan intensively introduced Energy Management System based on Energy Conservation Act (the formal name: Act on the Rational Use of Energy), then achieved the lowest level of energy consumption performance (evaluated by the index, primary energy supply per GDP) in the world. The Energy Conservation Act (hereinafter referred as EC Act) is Japanese domestic law enacted in This act provides measures for the rational use of energy in factories, buildings, transportation and machinery and equipment, etc. aiming to ensure the effective utilization of fossil fuel resources. 1.1 History of the EC Act Since the enactment in 1979, the Act has undergone six major revisions up to the present date according to the social, economic and environmental requirement. Table 1-1 shows the changes in the EC Act since its establishment. Table 1-1 Changes in the EC Act Year Major Revisions in the Energy Conservation Act Background 1951 Enforcement of Heat Management Law Effective use of fuel in industrial sector 1979 Energy Conservation Act establishment Establishment of designated energy (heat and electricity) management factories Establishment of EC Guideline in the residence and building fields, and 1 st Oil Crisis in nd Oil Crisis in 1978 in the machinery and equipment fields 1983 Energy Conservation Act revision Introduction of examination for a qualified energy manager s license 1993 Energy Conservation Act revision Establishment of Basic Policy COP(Kyoto Protocol) in 1993 Periodical reporting system introduced 1998 Energy Conservation Act revision Expansion of designated energy management factories (new introduction of type-2) Introduction of Top Runner Program to machinery and equipment and automobiles

2 2005 Energy Conservation Act revision Introduction of unified management of heat and electricity Expansion of stipulation courses to cover transportation sector 2008 Energy Conservation Act revision Introduction of business operator units including franchise chain stipulations Introduction of benchmark system in each industrial sub-sector 2013 Energy Conservation Act revision User electricity peak demand measures Introduction of Top Runner Program to building materials Kyoto Protocol put into effect : 1 st committed term of Kyoto Protocol Electricity shortage due to Big Quake in 2011 Japan, which relies most part of the energy supply on abroad, has implemented the EC measures that contribute both to securing of stable energy supply and prevention of the global warming as well as economic development. 1.2 Structure of the EC Act The EC Act is composed of the Objective, Definition and the Basic Policies, followed by the measures for industries, transportation, buildings, machinery & equipment, etc. and electricity utility, and the miscellaneous provisions and penal provisions. The EC Act stipulates the following key measures; (1) The framework which requires the specified business operators, whose energy consumption of 1,500 kl COE/y or more, to appoint the qualified energy management persons (including the qualified energy manager) and execute daily energy management, annual report on their energy consumption to the Government, and annual submission of the mid to long term plan which is applied to the type-1 designated company. (2) The energy conservation guideline (hereinafter referred as EC guideline) for factories or workplaces (3) The EC guideline for buildings and houses, and (4) The EC guideline for machinery and equipment called as Top Runner system which is applied to the household appliances, automobiles, equipment and materials. Supplemental explanation will be made by the section 2 Designated energy consumers and qualified energy managers under EC Act for the above item (1), and by the section1 for the above (2) & (3) respectively. Table 1-2 shows the key regulatory measures for industrial, commercial, residential and transportation sector.

3 Table 1-2 Key regulatory measures stipulated in the EC Act 1.3 Meaning of Energy Conservation stated in the EC Act Energy Conservation (rational use of energy) defined by the EC Act means the following two actions: (1) Reduce energy consumption by means of improvement and refinement of both equipment/machinery (hardware) and operational management (software). (2) Reduce the energy intensity (improve energy consumption efficiency) Definition of energy intensity is shown in the Fig 1-1. Energy Intensity Energy Consumption Volume (coe kl, Production Volume, etc. Figure 1-1 Definition of energy intensity The denominator of the energy consumption intensity stated in the EC Act is the value that has a close relation with the energy consumption such as the production quantity, or the total floor area of a building, etc. The details of the values are allowed to determine by self-decision of individual cases.

4 2 Designated energy consumers and qualified energy managers under EC Act 2.1 Designation of Specified Business Operator, etc. Designation of Specified Business Operator, etc. is stipulated by the EC Act and specified by the Cabinet Order as shown in Figure 2-1. Figure 2-1 Legislation Hierarchy of the EC Act System The values specified by a Cabinet Order are specifically given in the table 2-1 below. If the energy consumption in the previous year reaches or exceeds a certain value in a company as a whole, the company submits the notification on the status of energy use on its own to the government and is designated as the specified business operator or chain business operator. Likewise, the designation is stipulated for a designated energy management factory on a workplace basis. The key point is that the Act provides a mechanism by which the workplaces, etc., undergo the concrete regulations as shown above in the case where their energy consumption exceeds a certain level.

5 Table 2-1 Designation of a factory and company as a whole 2.2 Qualified energy manager system A Type 1 specified business operator shall appoint a Type 1 energy manager for each of its Type 1 designated energy management factories, etc., from among persons who have a qualified energy manager's license. Likewise, a Type 2 specified business operator shall appoint a Type 2 energy manager. The qualification method for a Type 1 energy manager is described hereunder. However, that of a Type 2 energy manager is omitted due to a simple requirement for the qualification, receiving the designated one-day seminar. (1) Energy manager s license A qualified energy manager's license shall be issued by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry to persons who fall under any of the following items:

6 1 A person who has passed an examination for a qualified energy manager's license; or 2 A person who has been recognized by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry as having equal or greater knowledge and experience than the person listed in the preceding item. (2) Examination for qualified energy manager s license 1 An examination for a qualified energy manager's license shall be conducted by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. 2 The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry may designate a "designated examining body" and cause such a body to administer the affairs concerning an examination for a qualified energy manager's license 3 The courses of an examination for a qualified energy manager's license, procedure for participating in the examination and other details concerning the examination for a qualified energy manager's license shall be specified by a Regulation of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. (3) Duty of energy managers Energy managers shall, with regard to the rational use of energy in Type 1 designated energy management factories, manage the maintenance of energy-consuming facilities, the improvement and supervision of methods for using energy, and other affairs specified by a Regulation of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. (4) Appointment of energy management persons A specified business operator shall appoint qualified energy management persons according to the Table 2-2 below. The appointment number of Type 1 energy manager differs from 1 to 4 based on type and energy consumption of a factory. Table 2-2 Appointment of energy management persons